Public servants are required to be ethical and transparent, Makana Mayor Nomhle Gaga said, addressing a packed City Hall at an event organised by the Office of the Premier to mark International Anti-corruption Day on Thursday 7 December.
“Combating Corruption all starts with the individual,” Gaga said in her welcoming speech, assuring local residents that she would lead by example in the fight against corruption.
A large contingent of provincial and local police, led by the SAPS marching band, along with members of the public had made there way there on foot, all the way from the Shoprite taxi rank.
Much earlier, starting at 6am, Premier Phumulo Masualle had been a hands-on participant in a roadblock at the Fort Beaufort road intersection that netted a stash of dagga and a consignment of khat.
The VIP line-up on the City Hall stage as the curtain-raiser for Masualle comprised Special Investigating Unit acting regional head Cathy O’ Brien, Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga, Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane and Ronnie Lesele from the Office of the Chief Magistrate in Grahamstown. Arts and Culture MEC Pemmy Majodina added to the star line-up.
O’ Brien in her talk outlined the scope and nature of the SIU’s work, which included serious maladministration in state institutions.
“But don’t make the mistake of thinking the ‘little things’ are small,” O’Brien said. “Negligence is not acceptable because public servants have the responsibility of due diligence.”
The SIU has very strong powers including to subpoena, search and seize, and unlike other government investigative units, it can litigate, O’ Brien said. She listed some of the SIU’s recent achievements which were recovering R36 million in debt; R38m referred to courts and the setting aside of contracts to the value of R4 billion.
A major matter the Unit was currently dealing with was a man who had sold road-building equipment worth millions to a number of municipalities; however, he didn’t own the equipment – which meant the municipalities never would.
“We are instituting civil action for the recovery of R92 million,” O’Brien said.
“The wheel turns slowly, but it’s always only a matter of time before corrupt activities are exposed. No one should profit from corruption.”
O’ Brien said any member of the public can report any matter they are aware of to the SIU.
“We are here, we are passionate about what we do and we can make a difference. If we don’t take action to fight the scourge of corruption we are all in big trouble.”
Also with strong words was Ntshinga, who emphasised that corruption undermines the socio-economic status of a community.
“Resources are blown away like chicken feathers in a whirlwind as people use public positions to gain advantages,” the Provincial Police Commissioner said.
The Eastern Cape was one of the most corrupt provinces, Ntshinga said.
“Corruption is rampant in municipalities which have lots millions because of unscrupulous individuals who have no regard for the poor.”
She also spoke about corruption within the institutions meant to protect integrity.
“We are far from defeating corruption if those employed to fight it become corrupt,” Ntshinga said.
Masualle began his address remarking that he’d been assured he would be safe in Makana – and indeed felt very safe since there were no flying chairs here.
He picked up on the same theme as Ntshinga, saying, “Corruption denies us the opportunity to develop our communities at as fast a rate as we could.”
